Tag: Trump big lie

New report exposes Trumpworld connections to a plot to ‘strong-arm’ elections officials in Michigan

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Michigan is one of the states where former President Donald Trump and his lawyers, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, unsuccessfully tried to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. Reporter Mardi Link, in an article published by the Traverse City Record Eagle this week, discusses events in Michigan in late November — when some pro-Trump GOP operatives showed up to examine election data.

The operatives, according to Link, went to Antrim County, where they “identified themselves to township officials as representing Rudy Giuliani’s legal team” and “accessed official election data in at least one township, according to local officials.” On Nov. 27, Link notes, they examined “two separate paper totals tape” from a precinct tabulator.

Antrim County Clerk Sheryl Guy told the Record Eagle, “They made calls to township people on Thanksgiving Day to set all this up. They were strong-arming local clerks to get in and see those machines. Some clerks said ‘no’ or didn’t answer their phones. And as soon as we could, we sent out an e-mail telling the clerks not to let them in. Then, we learn after the fact, they’d already been in three different locations.” Continue reading.

Trump sued by Democrat over mob attack on Capitol

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Former President Trump, his eldest son and several of his allies were sued on Friday by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) over their role in the run-up to the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

The 65-page complaint filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., accuses Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr., Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani of inciting the riot and violating a number of federal and D.C. laws.

Each defendant was among the speakers at a pro-Trump rally that immediately preceded the deadly Capitol breach. The lawsuit depicts the incendiary rally speeches as a tipping point that culminated a months-long disinformation campaign to push the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump. Continue reading.

Officers maced, trampled: Docs expose depth of Jan. 6 chaos

Two firefighters loaned to Washington for the day were the only medics on the Capitol steps Jan. 6, trying to triage injured officers as they watched the angry mob swell and attack police working to protect Congress.

Law enforcement agents were “being pulled into the crowd and trampled, assaulted with scaffolding materials, and/or bear maced by protesters,” wrote Arlington County firefighter Taylor Blunt in an after-action memo. Some couldn’t walk, and had to be dragged to safety.

Even the attackers sought medical help, and Blunt and his colleague Nathan Waterfall treated those who were passing out or had been hit. But some “feigned illness to remain behind police lines,” Blunt wrote.  Continue reading.

Trump Election Interference Case Ramps Up

A criminal investigation of former President Trump’s alleged interference in the Georgia election results enters a new phase.

Video Transcript

WILLIE JAMES INMAN: The Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump entered a new chapter Thursday with local prosecutors able to present their case to a grand jury.

DONALD TRUMP: So look, all I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more that we have because we want to say. Continue reading.

Trump appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot

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Federico Klein, a former State Department aide, was picked up Thursday on charges stemming from the Jan. 6 takeover of Congress.

The FBI on Thursday arrested Federico Klein, a former State Department aide, on charges related to the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, marking the first known instance of an appointee of President Donald Trump facing criminal prosecution in connection with the attempt to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s victory.

Klein, 42, was taken into custody in Virginia, said Samantha Shero, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Washington Field Office.

An FBI lookout bulletin issued two weeks after the Capitol assault included a photo of Klein, prompting two tipsters to contact the FBI and finger him as the man in that picture, according to an affidavit filed in federal court in Washington.

WATCH: QAnon Shaman’s mom defends her son’s honor while spewing conspiracy theories about 2020 election

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Martha Chansley, the mother of the so-called QAnon Shaman, defended her son’s actions during an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes.

In an interview set to be aired on Sunday, Chansley grew defensive when asked whether she thought her son, 33-year-old Jacob Chansley, did anything wrong when he took part in a violent mob that stormed the United States Capitol building on January 6th.

“What do you mean by ‘wrong?'” she asked incredulously. “He didn’t — he went through open doors! He was escorted into the Senate! So I don’t know what’s wrong with that!” Continue reading.

Pelosi warns of threat from ‘all the president’s men’

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday called for more funding for Capitol security, citing the ongoing threat of violence from “all the president’s men” — a reference to the mob of former President Trump‘s supporters who ransacked the Capitol on Jan. 6. 

“Between COVID — where we need to have vaccinations more broadly in the Capitol so that many more people can come here and do their jobs — [and] the threat of all the president’s men out there, we have to ensure with our security that we are safe enough to do our job, but not impeding [that work],” Pelosi told reporters at a press briefing.

The security issue has been front and center since the mob overwhelmed law enforcement officers and forced the evacuation of lawmakers who were certifying President Biden‘s victory in the Electoral College. Continue reading.

Capitol Police asks National Guard to extend deployment

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Capitol Police on Thursday requested the National Guard extend its deployment of National Guardsmen at the Capitol amid heightened security concerns almost two months after the Jan. 6 attack.

“Today, US Capitol Police Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman formally asked the Department of Defense to extend the support provided by the National Guard to remain at the Capitol beyond March 12th,” the police said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, a Defense Department official said the Pentagon was reviewing a draft request from Capitol Police to extend the deployment, which started after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Continue reading.

Capitol Rioter Who Assaulted Police Traveled On Turning Point USA Bus

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A retired firefighter who threw a fire extinguisher at police officers during the January 6 Capitol insurrection was put under pretrial house arrest on Tuesday. Robert Sanford had surrendered himself to federal authorities on multiple charges nearly a week after the insurrection. HuffPo’s Ryan J. Reilly reported that according to Sanford’s attorney, the defendant traveled to Washington, D.C., on a bus organized by Turning Point Action, founded by Trump loyalist Charlie Kirk.

Following the insurrection, Kirk deleted a January 4 tweet saying his organization was sending 80 buses of Trump supporters to the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6. A Turning Point Action spokesperson claimed that the organization had sent only seven buses to the capital and that the student protesters were not involved in the day’s violence.

During his January 4 podcast, Kirk stated, “Turning Point Action is being financially supportive of that rally. We are sending buses.” Continue reading.

D.C. Guard chief says ‘unusual’ restrictions slowed deployment of backup during Capitol riot

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The commanding general of the D.C. National Guard told lawmakers Wednesday that restrictions the Pentagon placed on him in the run-up to the Capitol riot and lag time in decision-making by his chain of command prevented him from more quickly sending forces to help quell the violence.

Maj. Gen. William J. Walker said his hands were tied by the Pentagon for more than three hours after he received a call from the Capitol Police chief saying a request for backup was imminent, delaying the arrival of military forces at the premises as lawmakers evacuated or barricaded themselves in offices during one of the biggest national security failures since the 9/11 attacks.

Walker described how he had troops ready and waiting to be sent to the Capitol but did not have sign-off from the Pentagon, which in directives ahead of the events had restricted his leeway to respond to contingencies. Continue reading.